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Ambitious plans for a new £19 million research centre on RD&E site submitted to city planners
A planning application for a state of the art research, innovation, learning and development centre has been submitted by the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry and the University of Exeter.
The centre, to be jointly funded by all partners, will harness skills, learning and innovation to improve patient care in a single centre of excellence. The project has also received an injection of £4.75 million of funding from the prestigious Wellcome-Wolfson capitals award scheme as part of their investment in UK scientific infrastructure.
The project will replace the existing Post Graduate Education Centre which is no longer fit for purpose, with a new centre designed to meet the future needs of partners in a cost efficient, environmentally friendly building.
Other benefits will include:
- On site research into areas such as Diabetes and Obesity that are relevant to many of our patients.
- Ensure the Trust continues to be an attractive work place for newly qualified professionals, meeting the needs of their ongoing training in a modern, patient-centred setting.
- Provide existing staff with quality education and training facilities to ensure that they have access to the latest knowledge, skills and technology.
- Allow services to be housed under one roof, releasing accommodation space for other clinical use.
RD&E Director of Finance, Suzanne Tracey said: “This is a very exciting project that will improve our facilities and develop the ever closer positive working relationship between the Trust, PCMD, and the University. The new centre will ensure we can continue to provide patient-centred health care in an innovative environment that effectively adapts best evidence into clinical practice for patient benefit.”
Professor Steven Thornton, Dean of the Peninsula College of Medicine & Dentistry, commented: “The Centre will allow us to further develop our key work on the origins and causes of diabetes and related illnesses. It will also enable us to translate work from our laboratories into treatments and therapies for patients. We are already recognised globally as an international leader in a wide range of research related to diabetes and associated conditions. Our new building and its state of the art facilities will allow us to develop this vital work and ensure it benefits patients across the world.”
If the proposed plans are approved by the Planning Committee then it is envisaged that work will begin on the project in early 2012 and be completed by October 2013.
An open event for RD&E neighbours, stakeholders and interested members of the public is being held from 2.30pm – 7pm on Monday 15 August at the Post Graduate Education Centre, where the plans will be available for view and there will be an opportunity to submit feedback and comments.
Jan - Jun 2012